ES2626369T3 - Protection element comprising two parts joined to each other by an articular joint - Google Patents

Abstract

Protection element (14) of at least one part of the body of a user, comprising a first part (34) intended to cover at least part a joint of the user and a second part (36) intended to cover at least one part of a user member articulated to said joint, the first and second parts (34, 36) are articulated to each other by an articular joint (80) that has a degree of freedom in translation according to a main direction (P) that joins a center (C1) of the first part (34) to a center (C2) of the second part (36), characterized in that the articular joint (80) comprises a first strip (84), incorporated at each of its ends of the first part (34) and a second strip (86), incorporated at each of its ends of the second part (36), the first and second strips (34, 36) being interlinked with each other.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Protection element comprising two parts joined to each other by an articular joint

[0001] The present invention relates to a protection element of at least a part of the body of a

user, of the type comprising a first part intended to cover at least partly a user articulation and a second part intended to cover at least a part of a user member articulated to said articulation.

10 [0002] Such protective equipment forms for example a shoulder-arm shield intended for the forces of

order maintenance or security agents.

[0003] Such equipment must be able to protect its user against violent shocks, eventually carried by heavy or blunt heavy objects.

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[0004] For this purpose, each part is generally formed by a rigid hull lined by an elastically deformable mattress attached to the rigid hull and forming a padding. The mattress is formed by a fabric that wraps the foam ready to crush in case of shock in order to absorb energy and protect it! the user member against which the mattress is applied. Thus, the rigid helmet receives the shock, absorbs a part of

20 energizes and protects the user by preventing the source of the shock from directly reaching the member carrying the equipment, while the mattress is arranged to crush between the helmet and the member to absorb another part of the energy.

[0005] In known equipment, the first and second parts generally comprise a helmet suitable for each part and a common mattress for both parts. The fact of having different helmets between the first and

Second part allows to confer a certain flexibility to the protective equipment and a certain freedom of movement to the joint.

[0006] However, despite this relative flexibility of the protective equipment, it does not satisfactorily follow the user's movements. In particular, in the case of an arm guard, when the user lifts his

arm at shoulder height, the protective equipment is detached from the user's arm, discovering the arm, which is no longer protected, and releasing a step that allows a third person to take and eventually start the protective equipment. Certain movements, especially in torsion, are prevented in the same way by the team, which limits the user's freedom and mobility.

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[0007] US2005246812 discloses a protection element with several parts.

[0008] An objective of the invention is to improve the monitoring of user movements by the protective equipment.

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[0009] For this purpose, the invention characterized by the claims, has as its object a protective equipment of the aforementioned type, in which the first and second parts are articulated to each other by an articular joint that has a degree of freedom in translation according to a main address that joins a center of the first part to a center of the second part.

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[0010] According to particular embodiments of the invention, the protective equipment also has one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or according to all the combination (s) technically possible (s). ):

50 - the first part at least partially covers an outer face of the second part

- the joint joint has a degree of freedom in supplementary translation according to a secondary direction almost perpendicular to the main direction and almost parallel to an external face of the second part;

- the joint joint has a degree of freedom in rotation around an axis almost perpendicular to an external face of the second part;

55 - the joint joint has three degrees of freedom in rotation;

- the joint joint comprises a first strip, incorporated at each of its ends of the first part and a second strip, incorporated at each of its ends of the second part, the first and second strips being interlinked with each other;

- the first strip is fixed to an internal face of the first part and the second strip is fixed to an external face of

the second part;

- each of the first and second parts comprises a proximal end, close to the other part, and a distal end, away from the other part, one of said first and second strips being oriented almost parallel to a direction of union of the ends proximal and distal of the part to which it is attached;

5 - the other strip is oriented almost perpendicular to a direction of union of the proximal and distal ends of the part to which it is attached;

- said other strip is arched about an axis almost perpendicular to an external face of the part to which it is fixed, the upper part of the arc being closer to the proximal end of said part than the ends of the strip;

10 - the element comprises, in addition to the joint joint, a flexible textile piece that joins the first part to the second part; Y

- the first part is suitable for covering at least a part of a user's shoulder and the second part is suitable for covering at least a part of a user's arm.

[0011] Other features and advantages of the invention will be shown by reading the description that

It appears below, given only by way of example and made in reference to the attached drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the face of a protective vest comprising two protective equipment according to the invention,

- Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the side of a main part of the protection vest of Figure 1, without a removable side part of said protection vest.

- Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the side of a removable side part of the protective vest of Figure 1, which forms a protective equipment according to the invention,

25 - Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional representation of a part of the protective vest of Figure 1,

- Figure 5 is a perspective representation of a detail of the removable side part of Figure 3,

- Figure 6 is a schematic representation from below a first part of the removable side part of Figure 3, and

30 - Figure 7 is a representation similar to that of Figure 3, the first part having been omitted.

[0012] Hereinafter, the term "external" is defined by which the protection vest is turned outward, that is to say opposite to the part of the body worn by the equipment and the term "internal" so that it turns towards the inside of the equipment, that is to say towards the part of the body that the team carries.

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[0013] The protective vest 10, shown in Figure 1, is of the type shock-resistant vest for law enforcement or for some security agents or the other. It comprises a main part 12, intended to cover a user's trunk and two lateral parts 14, each intended to cover a shoulder and at least a part of the user's arm.

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[0014] The main part 12 comprises a front part 20, intended to cover a front face of the trunk of the user and a dorsal part 22 (Figure 2), intended to cover the back of the user, the front parts 20 and dorsal 22 being joined together to each other by braces 24.

[0015] The front 20, dorsal 22 and the braces 24 are joined together, for example, by sewing.

[0016] Each of the front and back parts 20 comprises one or more protection panels, each panel being provided with at least one mattress (not shown) of elastically compressible material, for example a foam or an elastomeric material, obtained by example by injection, molding or trimming. A plate 25 of

The rigid material is arranged in front of the mattress, towards the outside of the vest 10. The plate 25 can be almost flat or shaped to conform to the shape of the body part that it covers, so as to be ergonomic and thus improve! the comfort of the panel while facilitating the user's freedom of movement. Such plate 25 allows a good distribution of energy when a shock is applied, as well! as the absorption of a part of this energy, then the absorption by the mattress is carried out. The mattress and the plate 25 are wrapped, for example, by a fabric adapted for mastering the protective equipment. The realization of such panels is known per se and will not be described in more detail here.

[0017] Each protection panel, due to its structure, is capable of absorbing at least part of the energy due to a crash, especially shocks due to blows made by a third party without

weapons or with an object or with projectiles launched by a third party, in order to protect the user who carries the equipment, while allowing him to move freely.

[0018] The interior of each panel or of certain of them is optionally lined with one or more textile materials adapted for the absorption and / or evacuation of the user's sweat, as well! as for vest ventilation

10, in order to improve user comfort. Such textile material is for example a textile material called "breathable".

[0019] The front part 20 further comprises two first lateral components 26 at the level of the sides of the user and the dorsal part 22 comprises two second lateral components 28 at the level of the sides of the user.

Said components 26, 28 are provided with fixing adjustment means of the main part 12 on the trunk of the user.

[0020] These regulation means comprise primary coupling means (not shown), 15 provided on an outer face of each first component 26 and secondary coupling means (not

represented), provided on an inner face of each second component 28 and adapted to cooperate with the primary coupling means for reversible fixing of each second component 28 to a first component 26. These primary and secondary coupling means are for example of the type self-adhesive closure

[0021] The braces 24 are two, each being provided to cover a shoulder of the user. They delimit between

them an overpass 30 for a user's neck.

[0022] The front parts 20 and dorsal 22, as! as the braces 24, they define between them some lateral steps 32 for the arms of the user. In other terms, the vest 10 comprises an opening formed on each side of the

25 vest 10 and vertically delimited by a brace 24 on one side and a side component 26, 28 on the other hand and delimited horizontally by the front part 20 on one side and the dorsal part 22 on the other hand, as shown in Figure 2 , for the passage of a user's arm.

[0023] Back to Figure 1, each side portion 14 extends above one of the side passages 32. 30

[0024] Each side part 14 comprises a first part 34, intended to cover a shoulder of the user and a second part 36, intended to cover a part of the arm of the user that is articulated to said shoulder.

[0025] Each of the first and second parts 34, 36 essentially comprises, from the exterior to the interior 35, a helmet 38, which defines an external face 40 of said part 34, 36 and a mattress 42 defining a face

internal 44 (figure 4) of said part 34, 36.

[0026] The hull 38 is made of a rigid material, such as polycarbonate for example. It is made in one piece.

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[0027] Helmet 38 presents the general shape of the part of the member to be protected. The outer face of each helmet 38 is adjusted in a known manner for shock absorption during confrontations. The conformation is adapted to the part of the body intended to be protected and comprises, for example, protrusions that extend to both sides of the gaps, intended to improve the behavior of the

45 helmets 38 in case of a crash. The external form of the protective equipment is not the subject of the invention, it will not be described later here.

[0028] The helmet 38 defines a cavity (not shown) turned inwards and adapted to the reception of a member intended to carry the equipment. The mattress 42 is arranged in said cavity.

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[0029] The mattress 42 covers almost all of an inner face (not shown) of the helmet 38 and thus forms! a "lining" of the helmet 38.

[0030] Mattress 42 is adapted to absorb shocks. For this purpose, the mattress 42 is made for example in an elastically compressible material, of the elastomeric type. As a variant, mattress 42 is made

in foam surrounded by fabric.

[0031] Each of the first and second parts 34, 36 has a proximal end 46, near the other part, respectively 36, 34 and a distal end 48, away from the other part, respectively 36, 34.

[0032] The first part 34, in particular its distal end 48, partially covers a shoulder 24 of the part

main 12.

[0033] The first part 34 also covers a part of the outer face 40 of the second part 36. In

In particular, the proximal end 46 of the first part 34 covers the proximal end 46 of the second part 36.

[0034] The second part 36 is provided with an organ 49 for attachment to the user's arm. This organ of

Fixation 49 is preferably, as shown, closer to the distal end 48 than to the proximal end 46.

10 The fixing member 49 is, in the example shown, a belt.

[0035] Each side part 14 is removably attached to a respective shoulder 24 of the main part 12. For this purpose, the protection vest 10 comprises, for each side part l4, a reversible fastening system of said side part 14 to his respective brace 24.

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[0036] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, this reversible system comprises an appendix 50, incorporated into the

first part 34 of the side part 14 and a fixing strip 52, incorporated at each of its ends of the tie rod

respective 24, in particular of an external face of the strap 24.

[0037] The appendix 50 is characteristic of tissue. It is fixed, for example sewn and / or riveted, on

the distal end 48 of the first part 34. It has a proximal end 54 joining the first part 34 and a free distal end 56. It comprises an intermediate section 58 between its proximal 54 and distal 56 ends.

[0038] The appendix 50 has a first large face 60 that extends the external face 40 of the first part 25 34 and a second large face 62 (Figure 6), opposite the first large face 60 and which extends the internal face 44 of the

First part 34.

[0039] The distal end 56 carries a first fixing organ 62. More particularly, the first fixing organ 64 is carried by the second large face 62 of the appendix 50.

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[0040] The fixing strip 52 is oriented almost parallel to the shoulder 24. Define with the shoulder 24 a step 66 for the appendix 50.

[0041] The fixing strip 52 has a free face 68 opposite to step 64. This free face 68 has a second fixing member 70, adapted to cooperate with the first fixing member 64 for incorporation.

reversible of the first and second fixing organs 64, 70 to each other.

[0042] The first and second fixing organs 64, 70 are preferably adapted to release from each other by exerting a force of separation on these two organs 64, 70, said force being oriented

40 separating almost perpendicularly to a contact interface of said organs 64, 70. For this purpose, the first and second fixing organs 64, 70 are for example of the self-adhesive closure type, which allows a quick fixation and does not need great precision in the placement of the fixing organs with respect to each other. As a variant, they are of the push button type.

[0043] As shown in Figure 4, for the fixing of the side part 14 to the main part 12, the section

intermediate 58 of appendix 50 is fitted in step 66 and the distal end 56 is folded over the fixing strip 52 so as to cover its free face 68, the second large face 62 of appendix 50 being oriented towards said free face 68. Asl , the distal end 56 is folded towards the proximal end 54 and the first and second fixing members 64, 70 cooperate with each other.

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[0044] In addition, the first part 34 of the side part 14 is also folded so that it covers the fixing strip 52, the inner face of said first part 34 being oriented towards the fixing strip 52. The fixing strip 52 is It is thus interposed between the shoulder 24 and the first part 34. In addition, the intermediate section 58 and the distal end 56 of the appendix 50 are each folded towards the first part 34.

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[0045] Each side part 14 is solidly attached to the main part 12. Indeed, in case of attempt to start one of the side parts 14 by a third person, the main starting efforts are assumed by the fixing strip 52. Only a residual part of the starting efforts is assumed by the fixing bodies 64, 70 and this residual part is oriented parallel to the contact interface of the first and second

fixing organs 64, 70, which is not convenient for releasing the fixing organs 64, 70 from each other. As a consequence, to separate the side part 14 from the main part 12 while the vest 10 is worn by its user, the third person should tear off the strip 52 from the main part 12, which requires a much more important effort than normally necessary for decoupling the fixing organs 64, 70.

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[0046] Each side part 14 can, however, easily detach from the main part 12 when its wearer no longer wears the vest 10. It is sufficient in fact to lift the first part 34 to release access to the distal end 56 of appendix 50, after of taking this distal end 56 exerting a force oriented opposite to the strap 24 to decouple the first and second fixing members 64, 70. Only then remains

10 remove the appendix 50 from step 66 by sliding the distal end 56 to finish separating the side part 14 from the main part 12.

[0047] It is equally easy and particularly fast to fasten each side part 14 to the main part 12, performing the above operations in reverse order. This allows you to choose whether or not to put the side parts on

15 the vest, depending on the type of situation the user faces. In addition, the user can easily and quickly add the side parts "on the ground" if the situation demands it.

[0048] This removable fixation also allows the lateral part 14 to be adapted to the situation found, by choosing helmets more or less rigid depending on this situation, for example, or by providing a part

20 lateral 14 or so long.

[0049] Each side part 14 also includes, in reference to Figure 5, an articular joint 80 for articulation of the first and second parts 34, 36 with one another. This joint joint 80 has three degrees of freedom in rotation; in other terms, it is adapted to allow a rotation of the second part 36 with respect to the

25 first part 34 around each axis of space. In particular, joint joint 80 has ace! a degree of freedom in rotation about an axis (not shown) almost perpendicular to the outer face 40 of the second part 36.

[0050] The joint joint 80 also has a degree of freedom in translation according to a main direction P (figure 3) that joins a center C1 (figure 3) of the first part 34 to a center C2 (figure 3) of the second part 36 and a

30 degree of freedom in supplementary translation according to a secondary address S (figure 3) almost perpendicular to the main address P and almost parallel to the external face 40 of the second part 36.

[0051] It will be noted that, the first and second parts 34, 36 which can pivot with respect to each other thanks to the joint 80, the main direction P depends on the relative position of the first and second parts

35 34, 36.

[0052] Joint joint 80 comprises a first strip 84, incorporated at each of its ends of the first part 34 and a second strip 86, incorporated at each of its ends of the second part 36. Said strips 84, 86 are intersected with each other. In other terms, the first strip 84 defines with the first part 34 a

40 first step 90 for the second strip 86, the second strip 86 defines with the second part 36 a second step 92 for the first strip 84 and the first strip 84 is embedded in the second step 92 while the second strip 86 is embedded in The first step 90.

[0053] Each strip 84, 86 is formed of a semi-rigid material, such as an injected or trimmed polymer, 45 or a woven material.

[0054] Referring to Figure 6, the first strip 84 is fixed to the inner face 44 of the first part 34. It is straight and is oriented almost parallel to a first direction J1 for joining the proximal and distal ends 46, 48 of the first part 34. In particular, the first strip 84 extends from the proximal end 46 to the distal end

50 48 of the first part 34.

[0055] Referring to Figure 7, the second strip 86 is fixed to the outer face 40 of the second part 36. It forms an arc.

[0056] This arc is symmetrical with respect to a plane almost perpendicular to the outer face 40 of the second

part and parallel to a second direction J2 of union of the proximal and distal ends 46, 48 of the second part 36. Thus, the second strip 86 is oriented almost perpendicularly to said second direction of union J2 and is arched about an axis ( not shown) almost perpendicular to the outer face 40 of the second part 36.

[0057] The upper part 94 of said arc is closer to the proximal end 46 than the ends 96 of

the strip 86. In particular, the distance from the proximal end 46 to said upper part 94 is less than one tenth the distance from the proximal end 46 to the distal end 48.

5 [0058] Thanks to the degree of freedom in translation of the joint joint 80 according to the main address P, the

First and second parts 34, 36 can slide one above the other. Thus, when the user raises his arm, the second part 36 follows the movement of the user's arm and retracts under the first part 34. This prevents, under the effect of reducing the distance of the center Ci from the first part 34 to the center C2 of the second part 36 consecutive to the lifting of the user's arm, the side part 14 does not detach from the arm, releasing a passage between the arm and the side part 14.

[0059] The user is thus better protected.

[0060] In addition, joint joint 80 is of a very simple design, and can be manufactured simply and with reduced cost. It offers a great freedom of movement to the user, especially allowing the movements of

torsion, which is not the case of a team in which the parts are articulated between them around a single axis.

[0061] Back to Figure 5, each side part 14 further comprises a flexible textile piece 100 that joins the first part 34 to the second part 36. This textile part 100 is fixed, in particular sewn, by a first

20 end to the distal end 48 of the first part 34 and, by a second end, to the proximal end 46 of the second part 36.

[0062] The dimensions of the textile piece 100 are adapted so that the textile piece 100 does not hinder the functioning of the joint 80. In particular, the dimensions of the textile piece 100 are adapted to

25 that textile piece 100 is only tensioned when joint joint 80 stops.

[0063] Textile piece 100 is formed by a textile network. It thus favors the ventilation of the user member covered by the side part 14.

[0064] It will be noted that the invention is not limited to the only embodiment described above. By

For example, other reversible fastening systems of the side part 14 to the main part 12 are possible or the side part 14 may be sewn to the main part 12.

[0065] In addition, the side part 14 may comprise more than two moving parts with respect to each other,

35 so that they cover a part of greater or lesser arm size.

Claims (7)

1. Protection element (14) of at least one part of the body of a user, comprising a first part (34) intended to cover at least part of an articulation of the user and a second part (36) 5 intended to cover at least a part of a user member articulated to said articulation, the first and second parts (34, 36) are articulated to each other by an articular joint (80) that has a degree of freedom in translation according to a main direction (P) that joins a center (Ci) of the first part (34) to a center (C2) of the second part (36), characterized in that the articular joint (80) comprises a first strip (84), incorporated to each of its ends of the first part (34) and a second strip (86), incorporated to each of its ends 10 of the second part (36), the first and second strips (34, 36) being interlinked a with other. 2. Protection element (14) according to claim 1, wherein the joint joint (80) has a degree of freedom in supplementary translation according to a secondary direction (S) almost perpendicular to the main direction (P) and almost parallel to an outer face (40) of the second part (36). fifteen 3. Protection element (14) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the articular joint (80) has a degree of freedom in rotation about an axis almost perpendicular to an external face (40) of the second part (36 ). 20 4. Protection element (14) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the union articular (80) has three degrees of freedom in rotation. 5. Protection element (14) according to claim 1, wherein the first strip (84) is fixed to an inner face (44) of the first part (34) and the second strip (86) is fixed to a face external (40) of the second 25 part (36). 6. Protection element (14) according to claim 1 or 5, wherein each of the first and second parts (34, 36) comprises a proximal end (46), close to the other part, and a distal end ( 48), away from the other part, one of said first and second strips (84, 86) being oriented almost parallel to one 30 direction (J1) of union of the proximal and distal ends (46, 48) of the part to which it is attached. 7. Protection element (14) according to claim 6, wherein the other strip is oriented almost perpendicular to a junction direction (J2) of the proximal and distal ends (46, 48) of the part to which it is attached. 35 8. Protection element (14) according to claim 7, wherein said other strip is arched around an axis almost perpendicular to an outer face (40) of the part to which it is fixed, the part being upper (94) of the arc closer to the proximal end (46) of said part than the ends (96) of the strip. Protection element (14) according to any of the preceding claims, which comprises, In addition to the joint joint (80), a flexible textile piece (100) that joins the first part (34) to the second part (36).